Chester not inn: barred from good old pub guide

CHESTER landlords and a council planning officer have branded a new guide to outstanding historic pub interiors in Britain 'im-practical' as it fails to make reference to any of the city's oldest pubs.

CHESTER landlords and a council planning officer have branded a new guide to outstanding historic pub interiors in Britain 'im-practical' as it fails to make reference to any of the city's oldest pubs.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) organisation published the third edition of their national inventory this month, claiming that 'the huge majority of pubs have undergone drastic alterations in recent years and less than 4% have retained features of historic significance. We want to introduce you to the best examples that remain'.

None of Chester's pubs - which include the Grade 1 listed, 17th century Ye Olde King's Head and the 12th Century Pied Bull - has been included in the list of 204 public houses.

Frank Marnell, licensee of the Watergate Inn and chairman of the Chester Licensed Victuallers Association, said: 'When you look at the number of really old, heritage-based pubs in Chester you've got to ask what they can be asking for?'

Geoff Brandwood, the CAMRA Pubs Caseworker who compiled the inventory, said: 'The point of the guide is to highlight the need to treat historical features of pubs with care and not to replace them with imitation items when it's not really necessary. We have included pubs which have been largely unaltered in the last 50 years.

'In some cases there have been additions but the historic core of the pub remains essentially intact and preserves its old character.'

According to the guide, evidence of unaltered fittings may be a traditional layout of several small rooms, a hatch for off sales, evidence of waiter service in the higher class drinking rooms and furniture and fittings made of durable, high-quality materials.

Mr Marnell feels such tight guidelines are unrealistic for the modern landlord of a small pub like hisown,however heritage conscious he may be.

'The attitude towards drinking in pubs has changed because of videos and DVDs and because of drink-driving laws. I think that in a few years time there won't be many small pubs left because it's a hard industry to succeed in. Landlords need to adapt their pubs however they can to survive. They often can't leave the pub in the same state for half a century.'

Howard Dickenson, design and conservation manager at Chester City Council, adds that the rules and regulations surrounding today's public houses could also be a hindrance to publicans wishing to observe CAMRA's advice.

He said: 'The licensing authorities require pubs to be open plan so that all areas can be seen from themain bartoavoidhidden corners where somebody could be dealing drugs or misbehaving.

'Campaigns such as the Roy Castle Clean Air Award put pressure on landlords to install air purifying systems and EU regulations will require all public buildings to have wheelchair access from 2004, so if someone comes to us with a listed pub and wants to put in a wheelchair ramp there's not much we will do to stop them, although the work must be done properly, of course.'

Mr Brandwood says pubs should not be offended if they do not meet CAMRA's criteria. He said: 'Only 204 pubs were deemed worthy of the national guide but we hope that Chester pubs will get into the regional guides which we plan to publish in the future. We will be looking for pubs with enough historic layout and fitting to be of interest to visitors.

'We are not trying to say that pubs are only of value if they have been pickled for half a century - that's the worst thing you could do to a building. It's not up to us to stop progress, we're just trying to raise awareness of the extent of the problem so that landlords and planning authorities will perhaps think about preserving pub features that are historically interesting rather than gutting the whole thing.'

Nevertheless, Mr Marnell is angry that Chester has been excluded from a guide which he believes is perfect for its heritage.

'I think CAMRA are totally out of order. Especially since the organisation was founded in the Albion pub in Chester,' he said.

Mr Dickenson said: 'At the same time as CAMRA are compiling this guide, someone else will be compiling a list of family friendly pubs and I imagine they will all have different pubs in.'